Archives for July 2016

Sometimes something small is better than something big 🙂 I designed this mini mini quilt for a sweet friend. It can be hung from a clothespin, tacked to a wall or bulletin board, or placed in a hutch; where ever you need a little happy! I love this jar die by Lori Whitlock.

I was thrilled to meet up with Lori at Quilt Market! She is a super talented designer of fabric, paper, Sizzix dies, and crafts.

Let’s get started!!

Supplies:

Sizzix Jar #2 Die

(8) 2 1/2″ squares of white dot

(8) 2 1/2″ squares pink print

Fabric for jar, lid, and hearts

Heat n Bond Lite

2 1/2″ x WOF binding

batting

backing

Bakers Twine

Heart Charm

All seams 1/4″. Begin by sewing the 2 1/2″ squares together in an alternating pattern with 4 rows of 4. Press.

Fuse the Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong side of the jar fabric, lid fabric, and heart fabric.

As you can see this is a great scrap buster!!!

Die cut the jar, the lid and the hearts. I die cut 11 hearts. Peel off the backing paper.

Position the hearts on the jar and the jar on the quilt block. Mufasa and I are working very late tonight!!

Press the applique pieces in place.

Baste the backing fabric, batting, and quilt block. Quilt. I quilted loop de loos around the jar, then quilted with dark gray thread outlining the jar and lid. I also quilted inside each heart. Square up the quilt block and add the binding.

Tie a bow out of bakers twine and tack it to the side of the jar. I added a little silver heart charm – yes I’m cute 🙂

I hope you love making this project! I can’t wait to make more and give for gifts. You might want to tuck this little idea away for Valentines Day!!

I had this great idea for my kids to keep a summer vacation journal. I got each of them a composition book and covered it with patterned paper. I thought it would be fun for them to have a zipper pouch to keep the journal in along with glue sticks, pens, pencils, scissors, washi tape, etc. That way when we are traveling they can write down their experiences and also include post cards, maps, brochures, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia of our trip. They were super excited to pick their own fabrics! Here’s how you can make one!!

Supplies:

Front: (6) 2.5″ x 10″ strips

Back: 12″x 10″ piece of denim

Lining: (2) 12″ x 10″ coordinating fabric

12″ or longer zipper

All seams 1/4″

Begin by cutting the 2.5″ x 10″ strips for the front. You will need 6.

Baste the pieced front to the batting. For a little extra stability I add an additional piece of fabric to the back of the batting – one that will not be seen. So I use fabric I don’t like. Quilt. Square up. Depending on how much you quilted, your measurements might have changed a touch. The piece before quilting should measure 12″ x 10″. If it has changed, make a note and use this measurement to cut the denim back and the lining pieces.

Now it’s time to install the zipper. If you need more assistance on the zipper, I have a whole section of zipper pouch tutorials that will have more detail.

Lay the front piece face up. Align the zipper face down. Add one of the lining pieces also face down. Make sure all the top edges match. Pin. I buy my zippers extra long so there is zipper hanging off on both sides – not to worry 🙂

Using a zipper foot, sew 1/4″ along the raw edges.

Now repeat with the other side. Lay the denim face up. Position the bag front and zipper face down. Lay the second piece of lining face down as well. Align all top edges, pin, sew.

Press the fabric along the zipper. I usually top stitch 1/8″ away from both sides of the zipper. In my haste to get these done super fast I forgot this step. Position the zipper in the center of the bag and trim off the excess zipper.

Match the lining pieces right sides together. Match up the denim and front pieces right sides together. Pin all the way around. Here is what it looks like where the zipper ends meet.

Sew 1/4″ all the way around the bag leaving a 3″ opening on one of the lining sides. Turn right side out and top stitch the lining closed. Press.

I love big prints and I cannot lie! Especially big prints with animals! Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do with big theme prints and it seems all the quilt patterns out there require cutting fabric into tiny pieces. I came up with this quilt pattern because I wanted to showcase the large elephant print in this new line of fabric by Blend called Season of Love. My friend recently had a baby girl and she loves elephants! So this was the answer! The quilt consists of 4 big blocks sewn together in a 4-Patch. All you need is about an hour to put the quilt top together – whooo hoooo!!!

Here’s how you can make one! All seams 1/4″

Fabric Requirements:

1/2 yard dark theme print

1/2 yard light theme print

1/3 yard light gray

1/3 yard dark gray

1/4 yard (4) different accent fabrics

1/2 yard binding

1 1/2 yard backing

Begin by cutting the fabric according to the cutting diagram above. Sew the side gray sashing strips to the theme print center. Press. Sew the top and bottom gray sashing strips. Press. Sew the side accent print strips. Press. Sew the top and bottom accent prints. Press. Make 4 big blocks.

Notice the light theme print has dark gray sashing and the dark theme print has light gray sashing. Sew the 4 big blocks together as you would a 4-patch. Press.

Baste the quilt to the batting and backing fabric and quilt and bind.

I love how this turned out! You really get a feel of the theme print – and it is a large print!!

I can’t wait to make another one of these in different fabrics!!! I’m thinking whales? Cats? Foxes?

My family LOVES the Finding Dorey movie!! When Sizzix released this new fish die at Quilt Market I knew it was for me!

Using this new die and the circle die you can create this fun pouch. I wanted a case that would fit my iPad. Then my daughter decided she wanted it 🙂

It also fits a few composition books or the medium size coloring or sketch book. If you would rather a different size, simply change up the measurements to fit your needs! Lets get started!

Being by choosing a variety of blue fabrics from dark to light. Fuse Heat n Bond lite to the back of each fabric (I cut mine in 5″ squares for easy die cutting). Die cut the circles. I used the circle die that has 1.5″, 2″, and 2.5″ circles.

Make sure your Sizzix obsessed cat is nearby to assist 🙂

Cut (2) 10″ x 12″ pieces of denimn weight fabric. I used Crossroads Denim. Here is where you can change the measurements if you want. This is a generous size for the iPad. I wanted it to fit with my sweet leopard print case 🙂

Peel off all the backing papers and begin arranging the circles, overlapping so no background fabric is showing. I started at the bottom with the dark blues.

Once it is how you like, press with a hot dry iron.

Spray baste this to the cotton batting and quilt as desired. I quilted random wavy lines throughout. I am so in love with this!!!

It’s my turn on the Pixie Noel Blog Tour! Yay! I have been in love with this fabric as soon as I saw Tasha Noel post a few sneak peeks months and months ago! I love how whimsical her art is and I love her choice of colors!

It was a little bit challenging to sew with winter fabric when the temperatures here in Southern California have been in the 110’s and our town is literally ablaze! I decided to beat the heat by creating this whimsical snowflake quilt.

I don’t know about you, but cutting snowflakes and sewing snowflakes is not on my top 10 list of favorite things to do. Super time consuming! This quilt has 2 amazing shortcuts that will have you whipping one up in an afternoon.

First, all the snowflakes were die cut on my Sizzix Fabi – 3 at a time!

Second, the snowflakes are appliqued using Heat n Bond Ultra which means no tedious applique top stitching necessary! Heat n Bond Ultra is heavier than Heat n Bond Lite which I normally use for applique. The Ultra requires no sewing. Just cut, press, and go! The snowflakes get sewn over during the quilting process – which helps incorporate them into the quilt and makes it even more durable.

Isn’t this the cutest fabric from Art Gallery!! It’s called Pandalicious and it makes me want to go to the zoo and see some pandas! Cherry blossoms, bamboo teepees and cuddly pandas!

I had so much fun putting this quilt together. It looks complicated but its really rather simple. It consists of lots of these blocks:

and a center block:

Once all the blocks are sewn together the assembly of the quilt is as easy as sewing squares together!

Just make sure to follow the placement carefully as shown in the pattern. It is so cool when it comes together! I will totally make this again. I’m even thinking just the center portion of this quilt would make a fun table quilt or wall hanging!

The colors are amazing in person and the pandas are just the cutest! I hope you get a chance to make this quilt!!

Check out the other designers who have put together a Palisades Quilt!!!

I am totally loving this new book by Sherri Falls called Holiday Wishes! The patterns are so inspiring and they make you want to sew! I choose the gingham star block from her book and made some much needed throw pillows for my family room.

I always write about only using 20″ pillows in my home. However, my family loves Euro pillows in the family room. The old ones were headed to the trash and I was so thrilled to make some new ones!

I bought these 24″ square Euro pillows. They were a little too full so I made a small opening in the pillow and took out some stuffing.

I had purchased this Fruta y Flor fabric by Free Spirit and have been waiting to use it in my family room!! I am so in love with it!

I followed the pattern exactly and then added a border so the pillow top would be 24″ square. I can’t wait to make an entire quilt with these blocks!! I’m so in love!!!!!

I used Spray n Bond to baste my pillow fronts – it makes quilting so easy!

I quilted all-over swirls on both of the pillow tops. If you want more info on how to finish the pillow read this tutorial and this tutorial.

I am thrilled to be part of The Summer Sewing Series by Melissa from PolkadotChair. For me summer sewing is about catching up on all the little projects I can’t get to during the school year. This last week I sewed 13 new pillow covers for throw pillows around my house. Today I am sharing my latest pillow covers with you 🙂

Meet From Porto With Love by Cotton + Steel. Only my NEW FAVORITE FABRIC!!! These large scale cats have my heart swooning! I knew I needed some pillows! I love the heavy weight of this canvas print – perfect for home decorating! I kept the design super simple because I wanted the cats to be the focal point. I used Crossroads denim for the accent strips and the pillow back. This is the softest denim in the whole world!!
Mufasa was very helpful in making the pillows. Follow the diagrams below for cutting instructions. All seams are 1/4″

Sew the side strips on, press. Then sew the top and bottom strips on, press.

Sew each strip together and press.

Each pillow top finishes 20″ square, the exact size of my down throw pillows. (I like to use all the same size pillows so I can switch them out easily….I learned this the hard way!)

To finish the pillows, cut a 20″ square for the pillow back and insert an invisible zipper along the bottom seam of the pillow. Click HERE to learn how to sew an invisible zipper in a pillow.

I am so in love with these!!!!! They are soft and slouchy!!

I love how they look with my gingham pillows!!! Freshening up your pillow decor is such a great summer activity – it doesn’t take very long but it makes you feel so happy to have something new in your home.

This has been such a fun quilt along from Fat Quarter Shop! You’re not too late if you want to make this quilt! I’ve attached each of the videos below if you would like to make one. If I’m being honest, this kind of quilt (one that requires special rulers and templates) is so NOT my style. BUT I have to say I have TOTALLY LOVED making this quilt!

It’s so good to jump out of your comfort zone and try something totally new! You will love how fun this quilt is – the templates make everything fit together perfectly.